Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to call Audrey Pratt, a senior at Needham High School in Massachusetts, to tell her that she is the winner of the 2017 Hamilton Prize for Creativity. Audrey submitted a short story, and her work was selected through a process that included faculty rankings and final selection by an all-star committee of creative Wesleyan alumni.
Audrey’s “Thorns, Black and White,” is a spooky, unsettling tale. One of the judges called her “a startling and inventive writer.” Another said she “demonstrates sharp narrative instinct…generic suppleness…and raw writing talent/love of words.”
Audrey, who was accepted to Wesleyan early decision, is a top student at her public high school. The committees reading her work didn’t know this, but I can add that she had nearly perfect standardized test scores and is a captain on her school’s speech and debate team.
One member of the alumni jury had this to say about the range of work submitted for the prize: “Very impressed with all of these. What an artistic group of people. I can’t believe that artists this age are so active in so many forms.”
So active in so many forms….. that’s a great description of many Wesleyan students as they develop their creative capacities in a variety of fields, from chemistry and religion, to music and economics. We look forward to welcoming Audrey Pratt as she joins their ranks!!
CONGRATULATIONS, AUDREY PRATT, WINNER OF THE 2017 HAMILTON PRIZE FOR CREATIVITY!!